Yeah, summer’s almost over, but there’s no reason we can’t squeeze out the last of the summer’s heat with some killer side dishes for that end-of-the-season pool party or post Labor Day cookout feast. If you bring one or all of these side dishes, you’ll be taking down orders all winter from your summer-eager friends.
And the best part? These dishes are really inexpensive – and quick. You can get all of these ingredients at your local grocery.
The Great Guacamole Mezcla
Ingredients:
- 4 avocados
- ½ red onion
- ½ jalapeño
- ½ lime
- ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
- salt to taste (remember, you’re eating this with chips, which are salty)
Directions:
1. Pit the avocados and chop them into cubes. Place the cubes in a bowl. Once all the avocado is chopped and in a bowl, mash with fork. Squeeze lime in bowl.
2. Chop onions, jalapeno (seeds make it spicier!), and cilantro. Mix all together and dash it with a little salt.
3. Taste.
4. Add more salt if needed.
5. Enjoy!
Tip: If you would like to save your guac for a party later, save one of the pits and put it right in the middle of your guac creation, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The pit prevents the avocado from turning brown!
Another tip: Using ripe avocados for guacamole is the best. To make sure the avocado is ripe, gently squeeze one while at the store. If there is some give, you’re good to go. If it’s hard, it’s not ripe yet. If it gives a lot, it’s too ripe and not pleasant to eat.
Brazilian Pineapple Above the Sea
What you’ll need:
- 1 pineapple (unpeeled)
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
1. Preheat your grill.
2. Slice pineapple with a sharp knife until you have many slices. Avoid eating the core. That doesn’t taste the greatest.
3. Mix sugar, cinnamon and melted butter.
4. Coat slices with mixture on both sides of slices.
5. Place slices on grill. Grill until grill marks appear on both sides. (Around 3 minutes)
Taking this To-Go? Wrap your freshly grilled pineapple slices in aluminum foil. The foil should keep it warm, which is the best way to eat this.
Fresh Coconut Lemon Spritz
What you’ll need:
- 1 Coconut
- 1 Lemon
- Sugar (use as much or as little as you think)
Directions:
1. Open coconut by tapping holes into top. Drain coconut milk into a glass to enjoy later. Lightly tap coconut with a hammer or mallet until cracked open. Repeat this process until you have several pieces with the shell still attached.
2. Cut out coconut meat with sharp knife. Place bite size pieces into bowl.
3. Spritz lemon on coconut.
4. Dash with sugar.
